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Group Aims For Deal On Stimulus

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By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

The New York Times

Published: February 6, 2009

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators took charge of the debate over the roughly $900 billion economic stimulus plan on Thursday, and was working furiously in backroom negotiations to cut the cost of the package. Senate Democratic leaders said they would await outcome of those talks before pushing for a final vote on the measure.

Members of the bipartisan group, led by Sens. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, said they wanted to remove spending that would not quickly create jobs or encourage spending by consumers and businesses. And they spent much of the day scrutinizing the 736-page bill and wrangling over what to remove.
Aides said the group had drafted a list of nearly $90 billion in cuts, including $40 billion in aid for states, $4.1 billion to make federal buildings energy efficient and $1.5 billion for broadband Internet service in rural areas. But they remained short of a deal, and talks were expected to go all night.

Story, Nation+World, Page 19; Latest developments, TBO.com

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